HuTTON. — TJic Earthquake In the Amuri. 273 



the Upper Hurunui ; and in the Otira Gorge ; in all cases 

 lying in the old sedimentary sandstones and slates. The 

 waters of these have not been analysed, but Mr. F. Stephenson 

 Smith, who surveyed the district, informs me that the Cow 

 Creek hot springs issue from the solid rock, which is coated 

 over with a red deposit. The temperature at the point of 

 issuing from the rock was 135° F. The temperature of the 

 Hurunui springs is 139° F. The Cow Creek springs are said to 

 smell of sulphuretted hydrogen like those at Hanmer Plain, 

 as also do those in the Otira. 



Evidently none of these hot springs are connected with the 

 miocene volcanic rocks of Lyndon or the Pahau, but owe their 

 heat, in all probability, to the crushing of rocks under the 

 mountains. 



It was in this district, known as the Amuri district, that 

 the principal force of the shock was felt. It is thinly in- 

 habited, and is bounded on all sides but the south for a 

 distance of from thirty to ninety miles by country which is 

 almost or quite uninhabited ; large parts being mountains, 

 which on the western side are covered with dense forest. 

 Under these circumstances we cannot expect to obtain a full 

 knowledge of the nature of the earthquake or the position of 

 the centrum; but, at the request of the Council of the Institute, 

 I have put together all the reliable information that I have 

 been able to obtain. On the east side of the Alps we have 

 very good reports from newspaper correspondents and especially 

 from Mr, A. McKay, Assistant Geologist, and as soon as I 

 could leave Christchurch I paid a visit myself to the Hanmer 

 Plains. From the west coast I have been most liberally 

 supplied with copies of the newspapers published at Greymouth, 

 Eeefton, Westport, and Lyell ; and from these as well as from 

 other places I have received information from many people in 

 reply to a circular that I sent out ; and Mr. McKerrow, 

 Surveyor-General, has supplied me with some excellent maps 

 of the district. 



Damage done to Buildings. 

 Amuri District. 



Glynn Wye. — The manager's house, a wooden building, was 

 pushed several degrees out of the perpendicular to the east, 

 and the chimneys were thrown down. The men's cottage, 

 also wood, was shifted bodily loin, to the north. The wool- 

 shed was also much damaged. 



Hopeficld. — Chimneys thrown down and roof twisted out 

 of shape. 



Jones, Waiaic Station. — Woolshed and house badly 

 damaged. Men's cob hut destroyed. 



